Just before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Barack Obama at the White House yesterday, Israeli news outlets reported that Jewish settlers had recently received a permit from the Jerusalem municipality to construct "20 housing units, shops and a carpark at the Shepherd hotel compound in Sheikh Jarrah, a Palestinian neighbourhood in East Jerusalem," according to Al Jazeera. [Susie Kneedler picked up this news, below]. The announcement of the illegal construction is only the latest in a string of Israeli actions taken in the Palestinian Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which has seen Palestinians being thrown out of their homes and replaced by Jewish settlers.
Where’s the outrage from the Obama administration? When 1,600 new illegal housing units were announced for the Ramat Shlomo settlement in East Jerusalem while Vice President Joe Biden was in Israel, a torrent of criticism from Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and senior political adviser David Axelrod was aimed at the Netanyahu government. Is this announcement any less of a slight, coming on the same day as a meeting between Netanyahu and Obama and two days after Clinton told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference that settlement construction "in East Jerusalem or the West Bank undermines mutual trust?"
Israel is attempting to spin the latest move by telling the United States that the construction in Sheikh Jarrah was approved several months ago, as if that makes it more palatable to the world.
The denunciation from Biden and others came swiftly after the announcement regarding new settlements in Ramat Shlomo. Today, all that we’ve gotten so far is U.S. demands for a "clarification" on the building plan, and this statement, reported by YNet:
"Spokesman Tommy Vietor says the White House continues to believe that Israeli building in Jerusalem is destructive to the Middle East peace process. He says the United States is urging both Israelis and Palestinians to refrain from acts that could undermine trust as the Obama administration looks to jump-start the stalled peace process.
Vietor would not say whether President Barack Obama and Netanyahu discussed the specific building project in their meetings at the White House late Tuesday."
That’s not good enough. The U.S. needs to threaten harsh action against a state that receives over $3 billion a year in aid but refuses to heed U.S. demands, nevermind their obligations under international law.
Was all of the anger over the Ramat Shlomo announcement just a show? Were the denunciations only because of the timing of the announcement and because it was embarassing to the U.S.? I recently got a chance to interview Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian human rights lawyer who was a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s negotiating team, and this is what she had to say on the subject [emphasis mine]:
When the announcement was first made, and there was Biden’s condemnation of the announcement, it became very clear to me that the condemnation was not so much regarding the substance of what the Interior Minister had said, but more of the fact that it was done in his presence, while he was there visiting. The fascinating thing—again, if you look at history—all the way as far back as Baker, when he was purportedly interested in doing something with the Palestinians, Baker himself acknowledges that every visit he made to Jerusalem was marked by an announcement of settlement expansion, or settlement construction, or land confiscation or home demolition. So, this is not new. When Hillary Clinton came there was an announcement, when Secretary of State Rice came there were similar announcements, when Powell came there were similar announcements, with Albright. Every single administration since Bush the father has been met with the same sort of announcements and proclamations. I’m still a little bit stunned that Biden was so taken aback by this particular announcement. But again, if you read through the statements, what becomes very clear is that Biden’s anger was less directed at the substance of it and more directed at the actual timing of it.
You’re absolutely right when you say that many people have made a big deal out of this so-called “strain” on U.S.-Israel relations. I kind of liken it to the fable Chicken Little, where Chicken Little is screaming, “the sky is falling,” and clearly the sky is not falling, but people end up manipulating the statement that “the sky is falling.” So, people are manipulating this so-called “strain” on U.S.-Israel relations. There really is no strain; if there were a strain, we wouldn’t be clinging to harsh words, but instead we’d be seeing the United States taking direct action against Israel. And that’s just not going to happen.
If all the Obama administration can come up with is words, Israel will never change. The question remains, is the Obama administration serious about the detoriorating situation for the Palestinian people?
If I were President Obama today, and I believed General Petraeus that Israeli actions were harming U.S. security, I would request that Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer and
John Boehner and Eric Cantor take a trip with Brian Baird to Gaza. I would ask John Kerry and Richard Lugar to accompany them. I might throw in a request to Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley. It is time.
These folks have supported and expressed their love for Israel on many occasions. They have signed their names to the checks that provided the weapons, the spare parts, the collaborations etc. to provide for Israeli security. It is time they walk through the cattle chute called the Eretz checkpoint and visited Rafah, Gaza. They could feast their eyes upon the splendor of their generous handout.
It is time Obama made this request. As he has told us, he cannot do it alone.
The Arab League might be of the same mind, Cheryl, that Obama can’t do it alone.
Miami Herald published an AP report that the 22-member Arab League (which includes Palestine) will push for closer ties with Iran and Turkey, and will will propose attempting to negotiate directly between their organization and Iran to resolve regional issues. The League believes that US and Israeli sabre-rattling over Iran could result in considerable instability in their member states.
In the same report, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit will spearhead an initiative to persuade the League
heckuva job, Bibi.
Of greater concern to me is what Glenn Greenwald highlighted in Michael Scherer’s Time Magazine piece on “The Pro-Israel Lobby’s Plan to Storm Congress.”
link to salon.com
Specifically, Scherer writes:
What does Israel need these planes for? They cost $133.5 million each. And they are the top fighter planes in our military. WE are going to buy these planes for Israel?
Read about them:
link to huffingtonpost.com
could be Bibi’s arrogant display at AIPAC was a symptom of separation anxiety. George Friedman of Stratfor opines that
Bibi wants to fill his sack with goodies from mommy’s larder before telling mommy to take a flying leap as he stomps out the door to conquer the world — and smash mommy — all by hisself.
When is the US going to wise up and figure out that people that you use to dishonest ends, or people with whom you connive to dishonest ends, will sooner rather than later turn against you? Hillary’s pre-pubescent “friends forever” protestation notwithstanding, Israel WILL turn on the US (no, it will not happen the other way ’round, US is too stupid and too bought to recognize that they’ve been the Mark of a 60-year long Sting). It will not be pretty. But when the smoke clears, the US will be better off.
There is no honor amongst thieves.
Where’s the outrage?
Give it time. I am sure they are calculating, maybe triangulating.
RE: “If all the Obama administration can come up with is words, Israel will never change.” – Alex Kane
ALSO SEE: Israel Won’t Change Unless the Status Quo Has a Downside, By Tony Karon, TomDispatch, 03/23/10
(EXCERPT)…progress in the Middle East will not come until the U.S. changes Israel’s cost-benefit analysis for maintaining the status quo. The only Israeli leader capable of accepting the parameters of a two-state peace with the Palestinians, which are already widely known, is one who can convincingly demonstrate to his electorate that the alternatives are worse. Right now, without real pressure, without real cost, with nothing but words, there is simply no downside to the status quo for Israel. Until there is, things are unlikely to change, no matter the peril to U.S. troops throughout the Middle East.
ENTIRE ARTICLE – link to tomdispatch.com
Training a dog is hard. If the dog doesn’t get it you just have to keep repeating the action until it does. Congress doesn’t need more training. BHO and HRC just needed a little extra instruction.
FWIW, I don’t view Obama or Clinton as dogs, but it’s pretty clear Bibi does.
Some Israeli MK’s today called the British anti-semitic dogs for expelling their Mossad man.
“Why isn’t Obama outraged over yet another slap to the face?”
Obama has finally revealed some back-bone, shown by his treatment of Netanyahoo these past few days. To refuse to pose for official photographs, to not release an a-s kissing press release, to refuse to knuckle under to the Yahoo is extraordinary news to those of us wandering in the desert. This may be the first time in Israel’s history that a U.S. President has done similarly. This is big.
So what caused this? General Petraeus had the balls to state publicly that Israel’s actions towards the Palestinians were having a bad smell-effect on U.S. support for The Jewish State. Halleluya! the gates were thrown open for Biden to express his anger publicly “Hey, this is serious sh-t, what you are doing in Jerusalem affects US and our soldier security”! Then Clinton expresses the same sentiment in a soft way to the 7,800 AIPAC war-mongers in Washington! Will wonders ever cease?
But what is really at stake here, what can Israel do? Well, the Jews have maneuvered themselves into a position where all they have to do is give up something very small in return for Something very Big. [you Jews know who you are, you other Jews are the good guys]
It is a slap on their little democratic wrists to have to stop issuing building permits in East Jerusalem and in return for this latest “Magnanimous Offer of Peace”, they will demand a whole list of “Conditions For Peace in Palestine”.
The last item on this list, as usual, will be that Israel can add whatever conditions it wants, whenever it wants, such as: “No telephones will be allowed in the new Palestinian State because they can be used by vermin we are attempting to exterminate”, or words to the same effect.
And there’s the Iran Palestine linkage that Israel wanted all along.
You nailed it, cogit8.
As one from the suppereastside, thank you.
Obama’s got a memory like an elephant, yet he is not vindictive by nature.
He’s not a bludgeon-er by nature, but a glass blower. He needs first to have his flame at white-heat temperature – this needs patience. He needs all his materials placed before him within arms’ reach – this needs clear organization. He needs to artfully blend his materials using white-heat – this too needs patience. He needs to wait for the right beat, take a deep breath and blow while simultaneously stretching and twisting a brand new item.
People who say that Obama’s good at the long-game are correct.
We saw his pattern and style of maneuvering during the election. We saw it again during his health-care battles which he historically won after months of being called ‘weak’ and ‘ineffective’ and ‘got-not-balls’ by impatient critics including myself.
The gift of patience, is more patience. A long time ago someone said this to me.
I like the analogy. I hope he’s givin’ them enough rope to hang themselves. He’s anyltical and probably learns from all the Washington stooges, like Schumer, McCain, and Pelosi. He hasn’t had to eat from the filthy trough like those doggy eaters.
Today
Are not these exactly the measure that Obama is trying to get Israel to take? To end the occupation? To stop building settlements?
In the light of Netanyahu’s intransigence on these issues, why does Obama continue to support Israel in doing exactly those things that he claims he wants Israel to stop?
Was that a rhetorical question, potsherd? Not to be flippant but I figured it was obvious — Obama can be trusted at his word about as much as Witty. That is to say, they’re willing exploit liberals (in the former’s case, to simply get votes, in the latter’s case, to steal undeserved credibility and to erode the foundations of what he considers a threat to his personal golden calf) but have no intent on actually acting on anything they claim.
Ignore the words that are coming out of Obama’s mouth. Look at his actions — more money for Israel, more bombs and jet fuel and white phosphorous, more persecution of Muslims in prison camps (a lot of those in Gitmo are likely to end up in Baghrim at this point) and more attacks on the UN for having the gall to point out obvious crimes against humanity.
Actions speak louder than words.
And if you really need an idea where this sick cycle is going — Obama stood aside and let ACORN get ripped to shreds on a hoax. Obama doesn’t stand for the people who voted for him — which will be ironic, when he needs them to stand by him for reelection.
That’s a recipe for a one term Presidency.
Obama can’t rock the boat that hard yet. Timing is crucial and Americans aren’t fully ready for the divorce yet.
But they’re getting there no thanks to the main stream media, but thanks to the internet and Israel’s predictable and much publicized ongoing acts of greed and criminality.
I gauge that currently, the American populace is researching/digesting the history and philosophy of zionism 101 and they’re already disgusted – because they already know, even at 101 level, that zionism is racism; that roads and housing for jews only is just downright wrong wrong wrong. By next election, I believe they’ll be ready to at least ‘talk about a separation’, divorce possible further down the line. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Israel is on the debating tables at the next election.
In the meantime, we can expect more bad behavior from the Israelis – which again thanks to the internet, will be massively well covered.
Obama knows there WILL BE other resolutions against Israel for him to contemplate/utilize down a more opportune time and probably for a bigger fish – this much is guaranteed.
What Obama and Natanyahu want are at complete opposite ends. What their eyes were saying to each other that their mouths weren’t last night was: Regime change, friendo.
It’s impossible for both to work with each other. Impossible.
You’d better believe it’s that bad between them.
Aluf Benn certainly thinks so: link to haaretz.com
“Was all of the anger over the Ramat Shlomo announcement just a show?”
Yes. The point is to make it seem that the U.S. is not just following instructions from Tel Aviv when the bombs start falling on Iran.
Agreed, but I don’t think the rest of the world is actually going to fall for that.
It began with the mis use of words like, “disputed” , and media blitzs to brainwash and dumbdown the masses, as to where and what they are paying for in so many areas at the local as well as federal, exempt status, the list is more than a few, and all this for a populous of less than five percent, whom also blah, blah, blah. The powers that be are not going for an end game which include Palestinians or Palestine, and the world will sit idle because of a bunch of mad men with buttons to push as a scapegoat when all else fails, “take everyone down”. Sounds a bit like a finaticale suicide bomber…huh?
or is that homocide bomber
Is it possible to have religon be privately funded and without exempt status. with limited tv and a pay per on cable,..which would make people think about spending.
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